Lottie Barrett Lives (Again) by Hugh Centreville

By: Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2013

Title:  Lottie Barrett Lives (Again)

Author:  Hugh Centerville

Published:  June 27/13

Page Count:  374

Genre:  Children's Paranormal

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s Halloween night, 1966. 13 year old Lottie has been dead a 100 years and the kids go up to the graveyard with the book of spells Charlene Pendergrass swiped from Miss Robespierre. The kids are going to have some fun scaring themselves, bringing Lottie back, but it turns out Miss Robespierre isn’t the faker everyone says she is and there’s nothing fake about her book either and now there’s a ghost-girl walking the streets of Hope Mountain and what to do with her?

Maybe nothing. 

Lottie’s no zombie ax-murderer. She’s just a peculiar kid who wants to be a teenager, something she missed the first time. What else she wants is Bobby Clyde, cutest boy in the freshman class and how can Bobby resist? Lottie is cute and sweet and funny, or are those things illusory, a witch’s spell on Bobby? And what’s Bobby going to do when it’s time for Lottie to go back up onto the hill? Bobby is determined to go with her. Lottie doesn’t think he should go but she doesn’t think she could live (or die,) without him. Only Bobby’s mom and big sister can save him and before they can save him, they have to convince themselves it really is true, and there isn’t much time.

Lottie Barrett Lives (Again) is speculative fiction, a not-so lighthearted zombie romp.

My Review:

Centreville brings forth a very intriguing premise to create a perfect read for those who are superstitious or who want some quiet spookiness for a while. This novel is well and calmly written. Centreville’s understated descriptions work their way into the story to bring lots of details to his readers without stating them outright. I also applaud the fact that zombies, witches, and ghosts make their way into the story without a barrage of death and dismemberment. Centreville also uses the supernatural to bring forward a large amount of the trials and challenges faced by young teens, in a very atypical manner.

Centreville has created some very interesting characters to take us through this novel. Some of the cast was very well developed, and you got to know them as a whole. Other characters aren’t quite so well developed, leaving a bit of a hole in the story. My biggest issue with the characters was the fact that their speech became forced at times. In general it flowed quite well, but it wasn’t the way a real 13 year old would converse.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read for parents and children alike.

Buy your copy online here today!